‘You can’t read them,’ Gifford said. ‘Nor can I. They’re written in code.’
‘Let me worry about that.’ Ned had a genius codebreaker called Phelippes.
‘Queen Mary will see the broken seals on the letters and know what I’ve done.’
‘The seals will be restored.’ Phelippes was also a skilled forger. ‘No one will be able to tell the difference.’
Gifford was taken aback by these revelations. He had not guessed how elaborate and professional Queen Elizabeth’s secret service was. As Ned had suspected from the start, Gifford had no idea what he was up against.
Ned went on: ‘You will do the same when you pick up the letters from Chartley. You will bring them to me, and I will have them copied before you deliver them to the French embassy.’
‘I will never betray Queen Mary.’
Launcelot screamed again, and then the scream died away and the man began to sob and plead for mercy.
Ned said to Gifford: ‘You are a lucky man.’
Gifford gave a snort of incredulity.
‘Oh, yes,’ said Ned. ‘You see, you don’t know much. You don’t even know the name of the Englishman who recruited you in Paris.’
Gifford said nothing, but Ned guessed from his expression that he did have a name.
Ned said: ‘He called himself Jean Langlais.’
Gifford was not good at hiding his feelings, and he let his surprise show.
‘That is obviously a pseudonym, but it’s the only one he gave you.’
Once again Gifford appeared disheartened by how much Ned knew.
‘You’re lucky, because I have a use for you, and if you do as you’re told, you won’t be racked.’
‘I won’t do it.’
Launcelot screamed like a man in hell.
Gifford turned away and threw up on the stone floor. The sour smell of vomit filled the little room.
Ned stood up. ‘I’ve arranged for them to torture you this afternoon. I’ll come and see you tomorrow. You’ll have changed your mind by then.’
Launcelot sobbed: ‘No, no, please, stop.’
Gifford wiped his mouth and whispered: ‘I’ll do it.’
‘I need to hear you better,’ Ned said.
Gifford spoke louder. ‘I’ll do it, God damn you!’
‘Good,’ said Ned. He spoke to the guard. ‘Untie the rope,’ he said. ‘Let him go.’
Gifford could hardly believe it. ‘I can go?’
‘As long as you do what I’ve told you. You will be watched, so don’t imagine you can cheat me.’
Launcelot began to cry for his mother.
Ned said: ‘And the next time you come back here there will be no escape.’
